Stephen Arlen

He was seconded by Sadler's Wells to be adviser to the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, and administrative director of the National Theatre in its early days.

He then switched to stage management, working backstage on such productions as George Robey's last West End show, a revival of The Bing Boys Are Here in 1934.

[3][4] In 1938, Arlen was stage manager for Bronson Albery's repertory company at the Phoenix Theatre, directed by Michel Saint-Denis, with stars including Peggy Ashcroft and Michael Redgrave in a wide range of plays from Ibsen to Shakespeare and Lorca.

[4] After the war, Arlen worked at the Old Vic, as stage manager for directors including Saint-Denis, Glen Byam Shaw and George Devine, and for Prince Littler at the London Coliseum.

He said that his principal aim was to give the company a home "where the members can stretch themselves, where it will be possible to develop on all fronts – singing, production and design.